My wife passed away from cancer three months ago after 24 wonderful years of marriage. We raised two kids together who are now in college. She also had a daughter, Sarah, from a previous relationship. Sarah became my stepdaughter when she was 16, but despite my efforts, we never formed a close bond.
When my wife was diagnosed two years ago, Sarah moved in to help care for her. I appreciated that at the time. But now that my wife has passed, Sarah—who is 40 years old—hasn’t made any plans to leave.
What makes things harder is how she’s been acting lately. She’s started wearing my late wife’s clothes and insists on doing everything around the house—cooking elaborate meals, ironing my shirts, and trying to “run” the household. I live alone and don’t need that kind of care, and honestly it makes me uncomfortable.
When I asked her to stop and encouraged her to start focusing on her own life, nothing changed. Eventually I told her she needed to move out by the end of the month.
That’s when she broke down crying and said she wanted to stay and “be like her mom,” taking care of me and the family. That comment unsettled me even more.
Now I’m torn. She’s my late wife’s daughter and clearly grieving—but we’re not close, and having her live here feels increasingly uncomfortable. I don’t know if I’m being heartless or simply setting necessary boundaries.
